Vtg Mechanism Assembly Using Wave Spring

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a turbocharger unit ( 10 ) incorporating variable turbine geometry. The unit ( 10 ) has a turbine for receiving exhaust gases from an engine having a turbine wheel ( 14 ) located inside a turbine housing ( 12 ), and an intermediate housing ( 24 ) connected to the turbine housing ( 12 ), having a recessed portion ( 28 ). A spring member is located in the recessed portion ( 28 ), and a heat shield ( 32 ) for receives apply force from the spring member. There is also a cartridge ( 36 ) for providing variable turbine geometry located between a first disk ( 34 ) and a second disk ( 40 ) in the turbine housing ( 12 ); the second disk ( 40 ) is held in contact with the turbine housing ( 12 ) by a contoured sleeve ( 26 ). The apply force received by the heat shield ( 32 ) from the spring member transfers through the first disk ( 34 ), the cartridge ( 36 ), and the second disk ( 40 ), locating the cartridge ( 36 ) in proximate relationship to the turbine wheel ( 14 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/762,663, filed Jan. 27, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to variable turbine geometry turbochargers, the positioning of a set of vanes in relation to the turbine wheel, and how the vanes are held in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Turbochargers are generally known and used for increasing power in both internal combustion and diesel engines. Exhaust gas is used to provide energy for a turbine, and the turbine drives a compressor which is typically mounted on a common shaft with the turbine. The compressor receives air from atmosphere, compresses it, and forces the air into the intake manifold of the engine. One feature commonly used in some turbochargers is the concept of variable turbine geometry (VTG). A turbocharger which employs the concept of VTG has the capability of varying the amount of exhaust gas flowing through the turbine, and can vary the amount of exhaust gas flow independent of engine speed.

Assembly of most VTG turbochargers involves the use of a “cartridge,” which is placed in a turbine housing such that the cartridge surrounds the turbine wheel. The cartridge is a circular object typically made of two metal rings which hold together a series of vanes. The angle of the vanes relative to the turbine wheel can be changed, thereby changing the amount of exhaust gas flow through the turbine. Current generation passenger car VTG turbochargers use a Belleville-washer-shaped heat shield to provide a spring load against the cartridge to ensure that the cartridge stays in place during turbocharger operation. This heat shield essentially performs two functions, one is to hold the cartridge in place, and another is to deflect heat from the exhaust gas, preventing damage to various turbocharger components.

One common problem with the heat shield performing the function of holding the cartridge in place is that the heat shield comes in contact with the hot exhaust gas from the engine, and therefore could potentially relax and lose shape. This most often occurs when the turbine wheel is a standard wheel with scallops between the blades. If the Belleville-washer-shaped heat shield relaxes and loses shape, the amount of force applied to the cartridge could potentially be reduced, and the cartridge may no longer be held in the correct position relative to the turbine wheel.

Also, the heat shield occupies a large gap located between the turbine wheel and the bearing which supports the shaft upon which the turbine wheel is mounted. This large gap reduces efficiency if used with the standard wheel having scallops between the blades. The gap could allow oil leakage across the piston ring seal due to reduced pressures between the turbine wheel and heat shield. The gap also requires a relatively large distance between the turbine wheel and the bearing that supports the shaft which could lead to increased efficiency losses due to the required, increased radial clearance between the turbine wheel and turbine housing, and could lead to increased instability for the bearing.

Therefore, there exists a need for a way to hold the cartridge of the VTG turbine in place while resisting heat from the exhaust gases to avoid deformation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned problems by having a spring member for holding the cartridge of a variable turbine geometry turbocharger as a separate component from the heat shield, which is used to apply force to a heat shield; the force is transferred through the heat shield and holds the cartridge in place in the turbine housing.

Accordingly, the present invention is a turbocharger unit incorporating variable turbine geometry. The unit has a turbine for receiving exhaust gases from an engine having a turbine wheel located inside a turbine housing, and an intermediate housing connected to the turbine housing, having a recessed portion. A spring member is located in the recessed portion, and a heat shield receives applied force from the spring member. There is also a cartridge for providing variable turbine geometry located between a first disk and a second disk in the turbine housing. The second disk is held in contact with the turbine housing by a contoured sleeve. The applied force received by the heat shield from the spring member transfers through the first disk, the cartridge, and the second disk, locating the cartridge in proximate relationship to the turbine wheel.

The heat shield prevents the spring member from being exposed to heat from the exhaust gases, and the cartridge includes vanes which can alter the flow of exhaust gas through the turbine.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a turbocharger unit, according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a wave spring used in a turbocharger unit, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

A turbocharger unit incorporating the present invention is generally shown at 10. There is a turbine housing 12, which surrounds a turbine wheel 14. The turbine wheel 14 is mounted on a shaft 16; the shaft 16 extends through, and is supported by, a set of bearings 18. The bearings 18 feature a set of oil passages 20, which are connected to a primary oil passage 22. The turbine housing 12 is connected to a housing or, an intermediate housing 24. The turbine housing 12 has a contoured sleeve 26 which circumferentially surrounds the turbine wheel 14.

The intermediate housing 24 includes a recessed portion 28 for supporting a spring member, which in this embodiment is a wave spring 30. The wave spring 30 rests between the recessed portion 28, and a heat shield 32. The heat shield 32 also rests against a first disk 34. The first disk 34 rests against a cartridge 36; the cartridge 36 features a series of vanes 38, which can be adjusted to vary the amount of exhaust gas flowing into the turbocharger unit 10. The cartridge 36 also contacts a second disk 40, which is held in position to rest against the turbine housing 12 by the contoured sleeve 26.

The intermediate housing 24 also includes a water cooling jacket 42, which is used to circulate coolant, such as water, through the intermediate housing 24.

In operation, exhaust gas flows into the turbine housing 12 and through the vanes 38 of the cartridge 36. The flow of exhaust gas causes the turbine wheel 14 to rotate, which in turn causes the shaft 16 to rotate as well. The shaft 16 is connected to a compressor (not shown) which compresses air and forces the air into the intake manifold of an engine, increasing power. The shaft 16 is lubricated by oil that flows from the primary oil passage 22 into the oil passages 20 and onto the shaft 16. The wave spring 30 applies a force to the heat shield 32, which applies a force to the first disk 34. The load applied to the first disk 34 is also applied to the cartridge 36, and to the second disk 40. Essentially, the function of the wave spring 30 is to hold the cartridge 36 in place after assembly into the turbine housing 12 by transferring an applied load through the heat shield 32, the first disk 34, the cartridge 36 and the second disk 40. It should be noted that the spring member is not limited to being a wave spring 30; the spring member could also be any type of spring capable of holding the cartridge 36 in place.

The exhaust gas flows through the turbine housing 12 at very high temperatures; the heat shield 32 functions to protect the wave spring 30 from being exposed directly to the exhaust gas, preventing distortion of the wave spring 30. The heat shield 32 also provides the advantage of allowing the bearings 18 to support the shaft 16 in a position closer to the turbine wheel 14, as well as allow the water cooling jacket 42 to be formed in the intermediate housing 24 closer to the turbine wheel 14, allowing for more efficient cooling of the turbocharger unit 10.

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited, since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims. 

1. A turbocharger unit comprising: a housing; a turbine operably associated with said housing, wherein said turbine comes into contact with exhaust gas; a spring member located in said housing; a cartridge operably associated with said housing; a heat shield for receiving apply force from said spring member, and said apply force received from said spring member by said heat shield is transferred to said cartridge, holding said cartridge in place relative to said housing, and said heat shield prevents said spring member from being exposed to heat from exhaust gases flowing through said turbine, preventing said spring member from relaxing.
 2. The turbocharger unit of claim 1, further comprising: said housing having an intermediate housing and a turbine housing; a turbine wheel of said turbine located in said turbine housing; and a recessed portion on said intermediate housing, wherein said spring member is positioned in said recessed portion.
 3. The turbocharger unit of claim 1, further comprising: said cartridge having a first disk and a second disk in said turbine, said cartridge for providing variable turbine geometry; and said apply force received by said heat shield from said spring member transfers through said first disk, said cartridge, and said second disk, locating said cartridge in said housing in proximate relationship to said turbine.
 4. The turbocharger unit of claim 3, wherein said cartridge includes at least one vane which alters the flow of exhaust gas through said turbine.
 5. The turbocharger unit of claim 1, wherein said apply force received by said heat shield from said spring member positions said heat shield in said housing.
 6. The turbocharger unit of claim 1, said spring assembly further comprising a wave spring.
 7. A turbocharger unit unit, comprising: a turbine having a turbine wheel located inside a turbine housing, said turbine for receiving exhaust gases from an engine; an intermediate housing connected to said turbine housing, said intermediate housing having a recessed portion; a wave spring positioned in said recessed portion; a heat shield for receiving apply force from said wave spring; a cartridge for providing variable turbine geometry, located in said turbine housing; and wherein said apply force received by said heat shield from said wave spring transfers through said cartridge, locating said cartridge in proximity to said turbine wheel.
 8. The turbocharger unit of claim 7, further comprising: a first disk operably associated with said cartridge; a second disk operably associated with said cartridge; and wherein said cartridge is located between said first disk and said second disk, said heat shield is located between said wave spring and said first disk, and said wave spring applies force to said heat shield, which is then transferred to said first disk, said cartridge, and said second disk, positioning said cartridge to circumscribe said turbine wheel.
 9. The turbocharger unit of claim 7, wherein said wave spring maintains the position of said heat shield relative to said turbine wheel.
 10. A spring member for holding a variable turbine geometry cartridge of a turbocharger in a turbine housing, comprising: a turbine housing connected to an intermediate housing having a recessed portion; a contoured sleeve located in said turbine housing; a turbine wheel mounted on a shaft, located in said turbine housing; a spring member, located in said recessed portion of said intermediate housing; a heat shield operably associated with said spring member; a cartridge located between a first disk and a second disk, said first disk operably associated with said spring member; and wherein a force is applied from said spring member through said heat shield to said first disk, positioning said cartridge between said first disk and said second disk, and said heat shield deflects heat from exhaust gases flowing through said turbine housing, preventing heat exposure to said spring member, allowing said spring member to maintain constant load on said heat shield, said first disk, and said cartridge.
 11. The spring member of claim 10, wherein said contoured sleeve positions said second disk in said turbine housing.
 12. The spring member of claim 10, wherein said heat shield deflects heat from said exhaust gases, preventing deformation of said spring member.
 13. The spring member of claim 10, wherein said cartridge circumscribes said turbine wheel, and directs the flow of exhaust gas through said turbine.
 14. The spring member of claim 10, wherein said spring member further comprises a wave spring. 